Watch-case



(No Model.)

T. MUELLER.

WATCH CASE. No. 280,394. Patented Ju1y3, 1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

' THEODORE MUELLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVAN IA.

WATCH-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,394, dated July 3, 1883.

Application filed December 5, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, THEODORE MUELLER,E

of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Watch-Gases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to the manufacture of watch-cases, but more particularly to the means of fastening on the lid and bezel; and it consists in forming canrrims upon the two faces of the center and providing the bezel and lid with corresponding camshaped rims, the said parts being so constructed that when the bezel and lid, or either of" them, be placed against the center face or faces and turned, they shall be locked firmly in position, all of which is more fully set forth in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof.

'I-Ieretofore the lids and bezels of watch-cases have been secured to the center by hinges, or being firmly screwed thereto; but both of these constructions are difficult to make, require more time, and are expensive.

I am aware that packing boxes and jars have been provided with caps or covers secured to the body by cam-shaped lugs or projections and corresponding recesses or depressions but thesehave constructions entirely unfit for watch-cases. I am also aware that the trade watch-movement cases have been made in two parts which-screw together, through the agency of projections and depressions, to

hold the movement and protect it from dust, and I therefore do not lay claim to anything which could be construed as embodied in these devices.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the bezel and lid of a watch may be detachably secured to the center to make a dustproof joint without the use of hinges, thereby cheapening the cost of manufacture by.dispensing with all soldered parts on the bezel and lid and other complicated parts heretofore generally used.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a watch-case with the'lid removed. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the completed case on linear 00. Fig. 3 is an inside or back elevation of the lid, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section of a part of same on line 9 y.

A is the center, B. is the bezel, and O is the lid. 13 is the glass or crystal. The bezel and lid are turned or stamped-up in the usual man ner, and have the rim or inwardly-projecting annular flange D, which is notched at one or more places, as at E, the said notches being abrupt at one end and gradually running up to the inner edge of the flange D at the other, as shown in Fig. 3. The bezel B'is constructed in precisely the same manner. The can ter A is provided on each of its faces with the annular rim or flange D, notched, as at E, the said flange and notches fitting into those on the lid and bezel that is to say, the flanges D of the lid and bezel fit into the notches E; and the notches E fit over the flanges D, so

that when the lid and bezel are placed on the faces of the center and turned to the right the flange parts D of the said lid and bezel fit back of the flange parts D of the center and clamp the lid and bezel firmly to said center. The reverse movement of the lid and bezel .opens the case.

I do not confine myself to any particular shape or form of cam projections or flangespn the watch-center, lid, and bezel. I

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1's

1. The watch-centerA, having its faces provided with flange D, notched, at E, in com bination with lid O'and bezel. B, each provided with flange D, notched, as at E, substan tially as and for the purpose specified.

2. Awatch-center provided 011 its faces with an annular flange notched in two or more places, as shown, in combination .with the lid and bezel having their internal flanges notched in a manner to fit upon the flanges on the center and be. secured thereto by a partial revo lution, the said clamping-flanges being entirel y covered by said lid and bezel, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. As a new article of manufacture, awatclr case center adapted to inclose and support the movement, having its bezel-face provided with oam projections, in combination with a bezel Carrying the crystal, and having its centeri'aee provided with. eorres )onding cam projections, whereby the said bezel may be de 5 taehably secured to said center and leave the outer surface entirely free from obstructions or flanges substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

In. testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

THEODORE D'IUELLER \Vitnesses:

H. L. ROBERTS, HENRY F. XVALToN. 

